Housesitting 101

Housesitting 101

If the timeframe is more than just a few days, make sure you get all instructions in writing.

Make sure you are comfortable with the people you are housesitting for; you will be comfortable in their house. If not, there may be a bit of awkwardness while staying there.

Items you’ll need to know about (instruction to get in writing):

· Emergency Contact Numbers where the home owners will be

· Phone: Do the home owners want you to answer the phone when there is a call or let it go to voicemail

· Gardening/Yard work (watering/mowing; planting/harvesting [if vegetables, etc], plant trimming, where the hoses/spigots are; garden tools needed [if any])

· Pets (food/water/toys; if pets are allowed indoors; any special instructions; vet clinic and what to do if there is an emergency with a pet)

· Any special phone calls (doctor’s appointments, other important information such as lawyers/insurance agents/etc)

· Garbage service (when to put out; where cans are located, etc)

· Washing Machine/Dryer (if any special instructions)

· Cleaning Supplies locations (broom/dustpan/mop/bucket/window cleaner/vacuum/etc)

· Food (any to be used immediately/what is available to you and what is not [if any])

· Mail Delivery (a place to collect mail, if home owners are having you pick it up) and Newspapers (if home owners are being delivered; do home owners want you to save them or throw out, etc)

· Towels/Washcloths/Dishcloths and kitchen towels

· Any rooms/areas that are off limits

· Are guests acceptable

Have a notebook and pen (if not provided) to take any phone messages that might come in while you are housesitting (if you will be answering the phone)

These folks are trusting you with their home, respect it and their privacy.

If you are not from the area pick up a map of city/town, along with a local phone book, if it is not provided. Most phone books have a basic map of the area, but not usually too detailed. Also, go driving around to become more familiar with the area. It might also be a good idea to find out where the nearest fire department is and where the police station is located. Another helpful place you might look up is the post office.

If there are pets you’ll be caring for it might be a good idea for you to go a few days ahead, while the homeowners are still in town for the pets to get to know you soon. You’ll also want to find out if there are any special instructions for the pets (such as: a dog that doesn’t like to be grabbed by the collar and will bite if such is done; an older pet that might pass away while in your care and what to do in that case; any special dietary needs of pets, etc)

One of the most challenging aspects of house sitting is the amount of time you will be alone. If you are not used to spending most or all of your time alone, this can prove to be somewhat unsettling. If you are house sitting away from your normal activity area (your home and the city/town you live in and around), and you are housesitting for more than a few days, you might consider getting to know some of the neighbors in the area. Also, check, the local newspaper for any festivals or community activities going on in the area. It also helps to keep in contact with your family and friends. If you are working while housesitting, this might not be as difficult since you most likely will be interacting with others during your work hours. Your alone hours will not be as many. If you are a person who has a difficult time meeting new people, you will need to plan ahead to have activities to fill the hours you will be alone. If you are allowed to have guests over, plan a weekend activity to connect with your friend/family.

Items to bring with you when housesitting

(some are needed if you are house sitting for more than a couple of days and especially if you are not working while you are housesitting)

· Clothes

· Shoes

· Personal grooming supplies

· Activities to keep busy with (if you are working a steady job, you’ll probably not need as many of these since you’ll most likely be gone most of the day during the work week)

o Books/Magazines

o Movies

o Computer

o Video Games

o Other projects you might be working on

o Etc

· Food (if there is anything specific you want or for any special dietary needs)

· Medicines (if you are taking any) and any that you might need in case of illness.

· Personal bedding (if not supplied or if you are like me and like your own blankets and pillows)

Life in a Small Town

Living in a small town

Born and raised in the Lodi (CA) area, I have always heard Lodi described as a “small town” or having a “small town atmosphere”. The past two months I have been living in a town with less than 25,000 inhabitants...truly a small town. In two months I have discovered that living in a small town has many advantages. Along with the advantages also come disadvantages.

The neighbors are friendly; even going so far as to put out the garbage cans for their neighbors. For all the friendliness, there was an extremely small down side. The newspaper disappeared for several days. After I realized it was walking away, I started going out to pick it up earlier in the day. The second day of retrieving it earlier, one of the previous days papers, that had gone missing, was returned, rubber banded together, ads and all.

The cashiers at the mom & pop grocery store know their customers by name, greeting them when they walk in. They are welcoming to an unknown customer with warmth and delight, as if they have known you for years. The politicians are also personable. During the election time, while I was there, I spoke to a mayoral candidate on the phone, when she phoned the house to stress her platform for running. During “trick or treating” on Halloween, a flyer from her campaign was left on the doorstep and on Election Day, a reminder call to vote, from one of her volunteers. Not a recorded voice, but an actual pleasant person. She won the election. I don’t know if it was because of her personal approach or not, but I would think it was in her favor.

Another thing, livestock is not banned from “city limits”, a goat or lamb bleated in the house behind where I was staying. I also hear a rooster several mornings. Delightful sounds to this city turned country girl.

The air in a small town is fresher not bogged down by smog and other big city stenches; you can step outside at night and see the stars. Not just the few with the strongest light, but many, many more.

Businesses close up in the early evening as the owners and employees go home to their families. I had become used to having 24 hour stores and it was a change for me to be in a place where there were none. Such was a great learning experience on waiting, no “instant gratification” for the things I desired or needed.

Having had this experience and already having the desire to eventually move to a small town, I learned first hand experience that moving to a small town will be a delight, one I greatly look forward to.

House Sitting

I am going to be housesitting and dogsitting for 30-60 days. I am going to be in a little country town called Riverbank. It will be quiet. I'm looking forward to the change that it will bring for a few weeks.

New Approach II

I delivered the resume to the prospective company. I had an impromptu "interview" with the person responsible for hiring. She didn't have an application for me to fill out and I said that if she would like, she could send one to me. This was on September 4.

The weekend was a 3-day weekend because of Labor Day. I faithfully checked my email each day, just in case she sent it over the weekend. I also checked in on Tuesday. When it wasn't emailed, I called and spoke with her again, after I had downloaded a few blank application forms from google. She stated that they had not received any new applications. I told her I had some downloaded and would be willing to fill one out and send it in. She said that would be okay. So I did. It has not been a week since I sent it in, but I have not heard anything from her. Tomorrow (Monday, September 14, 2009) I am going to call her with a follow-up. I'll keep everyone posted if this works.

Dwell refreshed.

New Approach

I was job searching today and I, unintentionally, am trying a new tactic. I found a possible position online and while I was gathering information on the company, so I could address my cover letter to the correct person, I ended up requesting that I personally hand deliver my resume to her. That was a new one for me...at 10a.m. today, I will be delivering...in Modesto (@ 1 hr away).

Hopefully I will stand out from the rest!

Later, I will post what happens with this new tactic.

Dwell refreshed.

Daily Verse: Proverbs 16:3

Proverbs 16:3

Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

This verse has been with me for a couple of weeks. Every time I open my Bible it jumps out at me. I am committing it to my life and my works to Him and my thoughts have been established...not too worrisome or frantic, just peace that all will work out eventually.

Dwell refreshed!

Simple Pleasures

Have you stopped today to partake in life's simple pleasures? Such as snuggling with a child and spending a few precious moments that will turn into a lifetime memory for that child? Have you ever pondered the sunset spread across the sky in glorious color? How about the fresh from the garden produce that you slice and eat...just off the vine.

Here is my simple pleasure from today:

Fresh tomato salad for 1

1 fresh off the vine tomato, sliced

1 green onion, chopped (fresh picked if possible)

2-3 pinches garlic powder

2-3 pinches ground oregano

3-4 pinches dill weed

2-3 tsp vinegar

Spread tomato slices on plate, cover with green onion bits; sprinkle with the pinches of herbs and spices; drizzle with vinegar. If you desire a quick drizzle of olive oil would be great with this also.

Dwell refreshed!

Everything and Nothing

It has been almost two weeks since I have posted. First my computer had a Trojan...from the same place that took my $$ (which was returned...thanks to my great bank!) most likely, which prevented my accessing the Internet. Since it has been fixed, thanks to my youngest brother, I have been working at getting some things completed. I never realized how dependant I have become on the Internet until it wasn't available. I am so grateful for a brother who knows enough about computer to fix things

I am so blessed not to have broken my ankle a couple of weeks ago. The water main in our yard was the culprit. The lid wasn't on completely and (at night) when I was walking across the yard, my foot slipped in and scraped up the back. If I hadn't kept my balance (angels working overtime!!) I would have broke my ankle. If my foot had been any smaller, it would probably have slipped in further and I would have fallen and broken my ankle or even my leg. I am so blessed to have just walked, well...limped would be better...away with a scratch.

The hole

The result

Today, I had a job interview...

Interview...that was a laugh. It was a testing session. What I don't understand is when the Employment agency tests me, why do I need to go "test" at the company...

Oh well, I survived it and hopefully I will get the job!

.

All three of my brothers had birthdays this month (this past week). Joe on the 18th, Casey on the 22nd and Jim on the 24th. Happy Birthday to them!

On the 23rd, our family grew again when my cousin had her first, a girl. She is such a beauty! I can't wait to meet her in person!

Congratulations to the family.

Dwell refreshed!

Frustration....

FRUSTRATED!!!

With people I live with. Grrrrrr. It never stops. Do certain persons understand that the constant (and I mean never-ending) negativity is so overwhelming? There is no relief.

I am trying hard to not let this situation sabotage my control; most days I do okay. Today...it could go either way!

I just am beyond knowing what to do. Next week, if I don't have a new job I am starting, I may just run away for a day or so. Give myself a break!

Daily Verse: Isaiah 40:28-31; Psalm 121:3-4; Hebrews 6:(17)-18

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fail;

31 But they that wail upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Psalm 121:3-4

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep

Hebrews 6:(17)-18

17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

He does not faint

He is weary

He does not sleep

He never slumbers

He can not lie

Such promises to remember!!

Jesus, refresh my mind with the promises of you watching out for me.

Dwell refreshed

Daily Verse: Proverbs 3:5-6

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.

Trust...

(\) our own understanding...

Acknowledge...

ALL...

Directed!

Re: Job Interview

I had a message on my phone last night, which I didn't get until this morning. It was the temporary agency calling to say they have a job interview for me. I go in on Friday morning. It is with an insurance agency, but the sell health. That is okay by me; I wanted to learn it eventually. I think the best way to learn is hands on.

Daily Verse: Proverbs 18:10

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

At my church, we sing a chorus with these words; every time we sing it, it gets stuck in my head...which isn't a bad thing...it is a favorite chorus of mine.

This morning, while I was reading this verse and meditating on it, the following went through my head and I wanted to share it.

Wall of protection,

surround me

Hear my voice, O Lord

enemies encamp about me

Danger is lurking in the way

guide my footsteps as you promise

teach me each and every day

Your blessing glorious

provide for me

until the end when you say

'Come away'

I run to you

no problem too big or too small

in Your infinite wisdom and power

You answer before I call.

Dwell refreshed

Hacked ATM cards and Interesting phone calls...

I received an interesting phone call tonight.

The story starts several weeks ago while job hunting online. I found a work at home program that seemed legit. I read it several times before I purchsed the $2 information CD. Well, 3 weeks later I have this $50.00 charge show up on my bank account. I called the bank, found out it was this place that had hacked my ATM card and was placing bogus amounts on my account. I immediately closed that ATM card and I have another one on the way. I had to call back the next day because they couldn't open the claim until the amount actually posted. Come to find out, this charge came from Great Britian and so I was charged a "foreign transfer fee" in addition to the other amount.

When I called back, I opened the claim and my great bank has been so helpful through this. So tonight, my phone rang (I thought it was Jimmy calling me, so I answered). The guy started talking and after he said where he was calling from, I didn't say much. He kept trying to get me to agree to "work" for them. I told him I was not interested and that I had found something better ("legal" also...) and just wasn't interested. He was trying to get me to say that I needed help with my "business" that I was starting, but I told him I had all the help I needed within my family. When he again pursued and pressed why I wasn't interested, I told him that when I looked over the information it was just something I wasn't interested in and that when I had a $50 charge show up on my bank account, that just sealed the deal. I also told him I had already taken care of it at the bank and that the charges were reversed...it was then that I heard it...

"Click"

Yep...he had hung up on me. Good ridance.

Moral of the story....stick to legit...Ebay, Overstock.com, Target.com, Etc.

When looking for work...CalJobs (California), OfficeTeam, Monster.com, HotJobs.com, Etc

I've learned my lesson!!!

Dwell refreshed.

Hospital Visits

My grandmother is in the hospital. She went in on Saturday, 8/8 with chest pains. On Saturday morning, before church, my uncle, the one she lives with, called my mom to say that my grandma had been having chest pains all night.

I gave a prayer request note to my pastor when I arrived at church. At the beginning of the worship service, he announced a couple of urgent prayer requests...my grandmother being one of them. She had came to church and after he told her it was great to have her at church, she announced to the congretation that she was still having chest pains. I went out and found a phone; called my mom and uncle. He drove to the church and picked her up and took her to the hospital. Now, for those of you who don't know my grandmother, she isn't one to do what others want AND she has an extreamly high pain tolerance. She accused my uncle of calling my mom and I told her that he did not, that I was the one who called her...and I called him. I told her, nicely, that she had to go to the hospital. After one childish gesture, she walked out with no problems. She was in that much pain.

Come to find out she had been having chest pains for several days and was waiting for them to be over before she called the doctor. She has been in the hospital since Sat. The doctor's still don't know what is exactly going on with her. On Saturday, they thought a heart attack, but the test were negative; then she was tested for a blood clot in her lungs (she had heart surgery in May, this being the cause of the clot), but the CAT scan they gave her also came back negative for a blood clot. The ER Doctor admitted her to the hospital...she was NOT happy about that, but he and the family didn't give her a choice. He wanted her doctor to look at her.

Dr. Hoff (primary care dr) and her heart doctor both have seen her today and are putting her through a good deal of tests because they can't find what is causing the chest pains. After having a difficult night (called the dr at 4am to get medicine for her), she says that she is doing better tonight. Of course, being in the hospital, she is on pain medicine and oxygen constantly, so that is some of what is helping her pain. The doctors are saying that everything points to a heart attack, but the tests are showing nothing.

Hopefully they will find something quite soon!!!

Daily Verse: Colossians 2:10

Colossians 2:10

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

complete in Him...what more is there to say?

Dwell refreshed.

Daily Verse: I Peter 1:6-9 (1-9)

1 Peter 1:6-9

6 Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

I studied this passage a while back, verse 6 was the verse I didn't understand. I googled it and found a Wesley sermon on "manifold temptations". I sat down one day with a concordance, dictionary, the sermon and my Bible and this is what I got out of the study:

A) A few facts (verses 1-9)

1) were believers (verses 5, 7, 9)

2) already had peace (verse 2)

3) still had hope (verse 3)

4) had joy unspeakable and full of glory (verse 8)

B) Vocabulary

1) Heaviness:

a) strong sorrow & grief "sunk deep in the soul"; inward affliction

2) Manifold:

a) many in number and many different kinds

C) Possible "manifold temptations"

1) health issues/illnesses

2) poverty

3) death of a loved one

4) unsaved family/friends and those who profess a belief but are living in sin/allowing sin in their life

5) Satan/evil/fiery darts

6) God withdrawing (due to our sin; grieve the Holy Spirit, pride, not doing good, slothfulness, etc)

7) personal reflection (knowledge of our self) of sin in our lives & where we would be without salvation (including inbred sin and total corruption)

D) Conviction of sins (#6 & 7 above)

1) heaviness (in wilderness rejoicing) is different from darkness (total loss of joy, no peace, no love of God, separated from God)

2) is permitted for our own good (verse 7, also 1 Peter 4:12-19)

a) trial of our faith

b) faith is purified

* strengthened

* confirmed

* increased (abundantly)

c) hope is increased (same as faith, above)

d) love is increased

e) rejoice

f) holiness (of)

* heart

* conversation

g) heart purified (from)

> pride

> self-will

> passion

> love of the world

> foolish & hurtful desires

> vile & vain affections

3) Example to others in & through our struggles

a) soul calm & serene in midst of storms

b) sorrowful, yet always rejoicing

c) meekly accepting the will of God (however grievous it may be to us)

d) in loss or want... the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21b)

Heaviness

• in wilderness rejoicing

• there sometimes is a need for heaviness in our life (not necessarily for all persons; can be for a season)

vs. Darkness

• loss of total joy

• no love of/with God

• no peace

• never a need for darkness

• can be fallen into, even after forgiveness of sins

Prayer:

Lord,

As your will permits, heaviness in my life. Teach me to wait upon you without fainting and with peace, hope & joy unspeakable.

Increase my faith through any heaviness I may go through, confirm my hope & perfect me in all holiness.

Purify me, both flesh and spirit.

In your Blessed Name, Amen

Dwell refreshed!

Looking for work

Today I went to an employment agency (temp agency) and filled out all the paperwork, took the tests in hopes that within a few days/weeks I will be working again. If nothing else I will be doing data entry...the second worst job for me. The first being reception work.

Just because you are good at something doesn't mean that you enjoy doing it. Well, for a paycheck, I'll have to figure something out!!

Daily Verse: Philippians 4:4

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice

Joy. An expression of the heart; something no one can take away. It is knowing salvation. It is giving of yourself to those who really need it. It is savoring each moment in your heart; it is knowing that through tribulations we are being changed.

JOY:

J Jesus 1st

O Others 2nd

Y Yourself last

Rejoice today and dwell refreshed.

Daily Verse: Psalm 91:4-6

Psalm 91:4-6

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be they shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

When you are afraid these are the verses to go to. It is a promise of His being with us no matter what is going on around us. If you have children, it is a promise that He will care for His own, no matter the time and place.

Dwell refreshed.